Blair sworn in as sheriff, announces staff changes

Chris Blair, left, is sworn in as sheriff of Marion County by Judge Hale Stancil, right, as Blair's wife, Sangi, center, and daughter, Alesa, look on at the Marion County Sheriff's Office in Ocala on Tuesday.

Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 12:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 3:34 p.m.

Chris Blair became Marion County’s 33rd sheriff on Tuesday morning, stating during his swearing-in ceremony that, “Today is a new day, a new beginning, and the future is now.”

During the ceremony in front of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office headquarters on Northwest 30th Avenue, Blair immediately announced some personnel and operations moves:

-- Don Maines will head the newly formed Professional Compliance Bureau.

-- Tommy Bibb will be chief of the Special Investigations Bureau.

-- Fred LaTorre will serve as chief deputy.

-- A Citizens Academy, a Street Crime Unit and a Warrants Unit will be created.

Under a bright sun, and watched by men and women in uniform, civilian employees, family members, friends, politicians and others, Blair, a Republican, took his oath of office in a 40-minute ceremony.

“This is coming back home,” he said.

Blair replaces out-going Sheriff Ed Dean, a Democrat, who served 14 years.

In his acceptance speech, Blair thanked his family and his parents for his strength, and thanked Dean for his years of service to the agency and the community.

Before giving the oath of service to all of the agency’s deputies and corrections officers, Blair said the road to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has been “long and winding” and lasted two years. That road, he said, included joy, fear and pain, and was a road “created by God.”

The law enforcement agency and the community “Must come together to heal and forgive,” Blair said.

“We must remain positive and do what we believe is right, regardless of the few in this community that would drive negativity. I say to them, shame on you,” he added.

Blair took office following one of the most controversial races in the county’s history and was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for possible violations of campaign finance law. The FDLE completed its investigation and presented the findings to State Attorney Bill Cervone in Gainesville because local State Attorney Brad King recused himself from the case. Cervone has not said when he will make a decision about possible criminal charges.

Blair, who was a 35-year member of the Sheriff’s Office and its top investigator before he retired, ran against Undersheriff Dan Kuhn and lost in the Republican primary in August.

Kuhn bowed out of the race after it was revealed he had an extramarital affair with a private school principal and the local Republican Executive Committee chose Blair from 10 applicants to replace Kuhn on the general election ballot. Blair defeated Constitution Party candidate Bernie DeCastro in November.

Tuesday, in addressing reporters after the ceremony, Blair made it clear he has a job to do and is confident he will be cleared of any campaign violations. He said he will wait and see what happens before making any decisions about the futures of Maj. David Sperring and Capt. Chip Wildly, both of whom are embroiled in the Kuhn scandal.

During the earlier public gathering, Blair talked about changes that became effective when he took office and others that will be implemented later.

Most immediately, former MCSO Chief of Staff Fred LaTorre, who retired several years ago, will once again assume that role but his job title will be chief deputy. Tommy Bibb, a retired major who left the agency around the same time as Blair nearly three years ago, and who was assistant bureau chief to Blair when they worked together in the Special Investigations Bureau, returns to the agency as a major and will head the bureau. Former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent Don Maines will be in charge of a newly created Professional Compliance Bureau and have the rank of major.

The three new hires have a combined 99 years of law enforcement experience, something Blair said his campaign was based on because “experience matters.”

Blair said that for the first 60 to 90 days, every aspect of the Sheriff’s Office will be evaluated by volunteers from the community who will talk with the men and women within the agency to get their feedback on what they would like to see. Those findings will be given to him for review and will assist in his decisions “regarding the future,” he said.

“I recognize that the authority of this office comes from the will of the people, for the good of the people. We will have an open and transparent administration that works for the betterment of our community and our citizens,” he said.

Blair said he also plans to establish a new Citizens Academy so people can “attend and learn all aspects of the Sheriff’s Office.”

Also in the works is the creation of street crimes and warrants units to assist personnel in combating criminal activity. During the news conference held for the media, Blair said the county is ranked 18th out of 67 counties in violent crimes and he hopes the units will drastically reduce that statistic.

<p>Chris Blair became Marion County's 33rd sheriff on Tuesday morning, stating during his swearing-in ceremony that, “Today is a new day, a new beginning, and the future is now.”</p><p>During the ceremony in front of the Marion County Sheriff's Office headquarters on Northwest 30th Avenue, Blair immediately announced some personnel and operations moves:</p><p>-- Don Maines will head the newly formed Professional Compliance Bureau.</p><p>-- Tommy Bibb will be chief of the Special Investigations Bureau.</p><p>-- Fred LaTorre will serve as chief deputy.</p><p>-- A Citizens Academy, a Street Crime Unit and a Warrants Unit will be created.</p><p>Under a bright sun, and watched by men and women in uniform, civilian employees, family members, friends, politicians and others, Blair, a Republican, took his oath of office in a 40-minute ceremony.</p><p>“This is coming back home,” he said.</p><p>Blair replaces out-going Sheriff Ed Dean, a Democrat, who served 14 years.</p><p>In his acceptance speech, Blair thanked his family and his parents for his strength, and thanked Dean for his years of service to the agency and the community.</p><p>Before giving the oath of service to all of the agency's deputies and corrections officers, Blair said the road to the Marion County Sheriff's Office has been “long and winding” and lasted two years. That road, he said, included joy, fear and pain, and was a road “created by God.”</p><p>The law enforcement agency and the community “Must come together to heal and forgive,” Blair said.</p><p>“We must remain positive and do what we believe is right, regardless of the few in this community that would drive negativity. I say to them, shame on you,” he added.</p><p>Blair took office following one of the most controversial races in the county's history and was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for possible violations of campaign finance law. The FDLE completed its investigation and presented the findings to State Attorney Bill Cervone in Gainesville because local State Attorney Brad King recused himself from the case. Cervone has not said when he will make a decision about possible criminal charges.</p><p>Blair, who was a 35-year member of the Sheriff's Office and its top investigator before he retired, ran against Undersheriff Dan Kuhn and lost in the Republican primary in August.</p><p>Kuhn bowed out of the race after it was revealed he had an extramarital affair with a private school principal and the local Republican Executive Committee chose Blair from 10 applicants to replace Kuhn on the general election ballot. Blair defeated Constitution Party candidate Bernie DeCastro in November.</p><p>Tuesday, in addressing reporters after the ceremony, Blair made it clear he has a job to do and is confident he will be cleared of any campaign violations. He said he will wait and see what happens before making any decisions about the futures of Maj. David Sperring and Capt. Chip Wildly, both of whom are embroiled in the Kuhn scandal.</p><p>During the earlier public gathering, Blair talked about changes that became effective when he took office and others that will be implemented later.</p><p>Most immediately, former MCSO Chief of Staff Fred LaTorre, who retired several years ago, will once again assume that role but his job title will be chief deputy. Tommy Bibb, a retired major who left the agency around the same time as Blair nearly three years ago, and who was assistant bureau chief to Blair when they worked together in the Special Investigations Bureau, returns to the agency as a major and will head the bureau. Former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent Don Maines will be in charge of a newly created Professional Compliance Bureau and have the rank of major.</p><p>The three new hires have a combined 99 years of law enforcement experience, something Blair said his campaign was based on because “experience matters.”</p><p>Blair said that for the first 60 to 90 days, every aspect of the Sheriff's Office will be evaluated by volunteers from the community who will talk with the men and women within the agency to get their feedback on what they would like to see. Those findings will be given to him for review and will assist in his decisions “regarding the future,” he said.</p><p>“I recognize that the authority of this office comes from the will of the people, for the good of the people. We will have an open and transparent administration that works for the betterment of our community and our citizens,” he said.</p><p>Blair said he also plans to establish a new Citizens Academy so people can “attend and learn all aspects of the Sheriff's Office.”</p><p>Also in the works is the creation of street crimes and warrants units to assist personnel in combating criminal activity. During the news conference held for the media, Blair said the county is ranked 18th out of 67 counties in violent crimes and he hopes the units will drastically reduce that statistic.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>